The present painting is from a series on the Kirata Arjuniya (“Arjuna and the Mountain Man”), an epic poem on the combat between the Pandava warrior Arjuna and the gaddi tribesman Kirata, later revealed to be the god Shiva. Written by the sixth century Sanskrit poet Bharavi, the work expands upon the events first told in the Mahabharata.
The illustration here depicts Arjuna aiming his bow at Mukasura, the beastly boar, out of self defense. Shiva, disguised as a hunter, intervenes, insisting that he intended to slay the boar first. Both Arjuna and Shiva's arrows strike Mukasura simultaneously, causing a conflict between the two men. The two exchange arrows, and Arjuna learns he is no match for the hunter, but is later elated to learn that his opponent was in fact Lord Shiva, who honors Arjuna for his valor.
The present series was largely dispersed at auction through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ten folios from this series sold at Sotheby’s London, 17 December 1979, lots 186-195; eight folios sold at Sotheby’s London, 9 December 1970, lots 193-200; ten folios sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet, 27 February 1973, lots 69-78. One painting from this series sold more recently at Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2008, lot 217. Further paintings are in the collections of the San Diego Museum of Art (Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, acc. nos. 1990.1294 and 1990.1295), the Minneapolis Museum of Art (acc. no. 2022.86.4), the Brooklyn Museum (acc. no. 81.192.10) and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (acc. no. M.70.38.1). A further painting from this series is illustrated by W.G. Archer in Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills, London, 1973, vol. 1, pp. 304-5, and vol. 2, p. 225, no. 61. Archer argues that the series was likely completed prior to 1820, due to its resemblance to a series described by Moorcraft upon visiting Sansar Chand in 1820.